Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2024

Looks like it is the greater one horned rhino outdoor exhibit. I imagine with just one rhino, Vishnu, now, the idea is to get Bucky outside as well. Must mean the gibbon exhibit in the pavilion is empty now.
 
Question/thought on the "200" number. Could that be 200 mammals, not including "smaller" species like fish, frogs, etc., vs. meaning only 200 species in the entire zoo?
 
Blitz said:
Question/thought on the "200" number. Could that be 200 mammals, not including "smaller" species like fish, frogs, etc., vs. meaning only 200 species in the entire zoo?
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Seems unlikely because in the article this comes from Dolf throws out numbers about how many species there were when he arrived vs how many there are now to hope many they want and none of the previous two could be based on mammals or even mammals/birds alone. It doesn't help that as far as I know the only information stems from a single article and there isn't more information.
 
I find this whole "200 animals" thing to frankly be arbitrary and stupid. While I can certainly agree with the notion that it can sometimes be in the best interest of a zoo to downsize its collection, picking a number of species to reach really doesn't seem like a wise idea given that all species have drastically different needs. For example, one of these 200 spaces is likely to go to the Western lowland gorilla, which requires a lot of space, a large daily time commitment from keepers, an expensive diet, and is an overall large use of resources for a zoo to house. Another one of the 200 spaces, however, may go to the green tree python, which can be comfortably housed in a reasonably small terrarium, probably takes about half an hour of total keeper time a day, and only eats one rodent a week. To say that these two species both take up an equivalent "space" in the zoo's overall collection is completely ridiculous, when the resources each species actually used could not be more different.

While I may not see completely eye-to-eye on the idea that Toronto Zoo should downsize its collection, I can certainly see a solid rationale behind it and can think of some easy places where losing species could be in the zoo's best interest. It's the whole idea of picking an arbitrary number to aim for that bugs me.
 
Zoo officially launched their 50th anniversary celebration today with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new entrance, formally named the Toronto Zoo Community Conservation Centre (TZC3). The highlighted that the new centre will also have an area dedicated to the zoos local conservation programs, in specific moving the endangered turtle conservation breeding centre here. Nice to see these local project sup front and centre.

They have also announced 50 days of celebrations starting today leading up to the official anniversary of Aug 15, 1974.

Check the news release (Toronto Zoo | Press Releases) or the zoo's socials for the full announcement.
 
In Dolf Dejong story. It showed the progress of the Savannah barn. There will be warthog, zebra, ostrich and eland. We will be able to see the animals indoor. I cant send a image here. Also the zoo made a flower cake for 50th anniversary
 
Interesting, that seems much bigger than initially planned. Initially it was planned for a new wildebeest barn. The initially plan had a large herd pen (42'x40') and then one large holding pen (8'x18') and three smaller holding pens (8's12'). This is from when you used to be able to get the plans from the website.

From the picture I can see on Dolf's instagram, which is limited size, it does look somewhat similar to the old plans. There are windows, so I think there will be viewing from outdoors.

I can't imagine this would hold all the animals listed above. I wonder if the plan has been expanded.

It would make sense though, probably will need to move a number of animals while the new savanna pavilion is being built, so perhaps they have expanded it for that purpose.

This could also benefit in the future as the master plan does talk about a larger expanded savannah there, so perhaps this could hold a larger number of animals there in the future for that area.

Unfortunately the RFPs are now behind a paywall so I don't know what's the plan is. Time will tell!
 
The zoo added new structures for their gorilla outdoor enclosure to help the gorillas.
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The former round beams have been replaced by “bridges,” which have more surface area and stability to reduce the risk of falls and encourage mobility.
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Extra-large rock-climbing grips have been added to facilitate climbing. Their placement was carefully determined by the gorilla care team based on their knowledge of how gorillas naturally move.
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Roofs have been added to three platform sections to provide additional shade as well as protection from the rain.
The Toronto Zoo
 
Dolf posted a post on Instagram showing Kembali(I read the comments) climbing on the lines of their exhibit. They can now climb around the ropes and in the future go to the entrance new building. It looks very cool to let the orang-outan climb. I fear that sometimes the orangutan gets scared or people do it on purpose.
 
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Wow this is huge news, just looked at the photos on Dolf's (1.0 Zoo CEO) instagram myself, and they are so exciting. There are three photos, one of the orangutang in the shoot coming out of the pavilion, one of him climbing the ladder, and a final of him going across the wires. This appears to the wires across the bridge heading towards the pavilion.

In the comments someone says it is Kembali (1.0), not confirmed by Dolf himself.

Great to see this part getting used, as the exhibit itself still doesn't seem to be the orangutangs favourite.
 
In addition to the boardwalk the zoo has dropped a new app today. It looks quite nice and includes an interactive map. Haven't tried it out on location yet. Will see how it works there, as I think it should use gps to show where you are in the zoo
 
Short visit last week but walked the new board walk. It is quite beautiful of a walk and looks the same as the one in the core woods, albeit there are times it is much higher off the ground. The sumatran enclosures are being re-built now, although very very muddy there. Looks like new transfer shoots will run under the decking. The initial viewing is much lower and there is a specific viewing platform for on of the enclosure. Size wise I don't think there are major changes. When you get around the back side though the view down will be nice as you are above the fence line.

The board walk comes out by the picnic area near the savanna restaurant past the Gorilla's outdoor enclosure. It is a little confusing now, but lots of signs up and hopefully will be improved over time.

You can see where the old path went to near the giraffes, but now it is empty. I would love if they made a connection there, although I think that is in my dreams.

Otherwise the rumour was Kembali (1.0 Orangutan) was out on the front towers again in the AM for the second time. He was in the new outdoor in the afternoon and came out went through the entire exhibit and sat on the back platforms for about 10 minutes eating. Seeing him swing through the trees was also amazing. He did also climb up to the tower of the transfer shoot and reached for those wires, but didn't go out. After that he mostly went from back of house to the research centre. I spoke with a keep who said he has really gotten brave over the past few weeks. Also first I saw him since last summer and his cheek pads have come in quite a bit. He is a handsome looking boy.

I ran by the GOHR and no babirusa in either outdoor enclosure and inside the back door was open and I didn't see Vishnu (1.0 GOHR). Was a bit disappointing. I am still said at their phase out, and while I love the babirusa, I don't think they hold the area down with as much interest as the GOHR, especially when they are house alone with no other babirusa together.
 
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